Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, and former party leaders Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry could not be indicted today in the case of contempt of the election commission and chief election commissioner.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had issued notices regarding indictment proceedings in the case. It had also issued a summons notice to the three suspects to appear in person.
A four-member bench headed by ECP member Nisar Durrani conducted the hearing on Monday, during which none of the suspects showed up.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s lawyer also did not appear, and instead requested an adjournment.
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A written report was also submitted to the court over the non-appearance of Imran Khan. The written report was submitted by Interior Secretary Aftab Durrani personally.
The commission member asked that if there were security concerns, could the hearing be notified in jail.
“If you want to conduct the hearing in jail, you can notify,” the interior secretary responded, adding that the ministry allowed courts to hold hearings in prisons.
The election commission is a constitutional body, which has its own rules, the ECP member remarked, and stressed that besides the Constitution and the Elections Act, no other law applied to the commission.
The member asked if the law allowed permission to hold hearings in jails. The interior secretary asked for some time to seek the opinion of the ministry.
The commission was informed that Fawad Chaudhry was also in Adiala Jail. At this, the ECP said it would issue an order on this matter.
No one appeared before the election commission on behalf of Asad Umar. His lawyer has sought an adjournment, the deputy director of law told the commission.
PTI lawyer Shoaib Shaheen told the commission he was allowed to meet Imran Khan just once in jail. He asked the ECP to issue an appropriate order for a meeting with his client.
Nasir Durrani said the commission itself could go to the jail for a hearing and that way the lawyer will get all the facilities.
Shoaib Shaheen told the commission that the PTI was not being allowed to hold rallies, and asked for a level-playing field.
The ECP then adjourned the hearing of the case till December 6.
